As a lifelong reader and book devotee, I have always had a difficult time imagining myself curling up in a comfy armchair with an e-book.  After spending most of my day before a computer screen, it just doesn’t sound appealing at all.  For me, part of the enjoyment of the book experience is the feel of the book in my hands, especially those with a high production value (although I must admit I am also an avid reader of ‘trashy novels’ that typically leave ink residue on your fingers!).

Nonetheless, I finally made the leap and purchased Amazon’s Kindle2.

When I first turned on my Kindle, I was amazed at the screen quality.  It is about as close to paper as an electronic device can get.  Its “screen saver” uses a series of very high quality images (black & white) of classic authors such as Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, Emily Bronte and even a Gutenberg Bible.  Books that are loaded on the system are easily accessible from the Kindle’s home page.  Although I did peruse the user’s guide, it is very intuitive to operate.  Some of the capabilities include reading aloud (choice of male or female voice and variable speed), searching within the book, and connection to resources such as Wikipedia.

I have now read several books on my Kindle and still find it delightful.  Although I cannot download books directly to my Kindle from my home (where Kindle’s Whispernet connection is not available), it is simple to purchase books and transfer them to my Kindle via my computer and Internet connection. In another interesting experience, I was walking through the Miami airport and saw a book by an author I sometimes read but don’t always think of, displayed in hardcover for a price of $27.99.  After perusing it and deciding I wanted to read it (probably only once), I continued to the gate, turned on my Kindle and purchased it in a matter of seconds for the standard $9.99 Kindle price.

eBook technology is still in its infancy and likely will be very different five years from now.  But even as a printed book addict and a proud member of the printing community, I have to admit that I am now officially a Kindle aficionado.   For publishers, eBooks are a win/win strategy since the costs associated with producing an eBook are nominal and there is no supply chain waste associated with them.  For book printers, however, this marks the beginning of a transition that is only going to accelerate as the world’s population shifts toward a majority of “digital natives”  and eBook technology continues to improve. Just like many successful commercial printers are adding marketing services that include production and distribution of electronic materials, book printers should be looking at how they can profitably get on the eBook bandwagon, adding this service for their publisher customers.

For more information about eBooks and ePublishing, check out the WhatTheyThink report, eBooks and ePublishing Primer, available in the WhatTheyThink store.  Whether you have a Kindle or not, I would love to hear from you on the subject.  What do you think?